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Sunday, February 28, 2010

When an agent of the Census Bureau sends you a form to fill out or knocks on your door, you have no obligation to tell them ANYTHING except how many people live at your address. The Census Bureau has no consititutional authority to pry into your private life. Check out the video below and share it with others. Big Brother is collecting information on you. Why? What will it do with that information? Who will have access to it? Just say no to the agents of the Census Bureau. Protect your privacy and the Constitution.

The flap over statements that Bob Marshall never made is nothing but an attempt to discredit the most eloquent defender of life in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bob opposes funding of Planned Parenthood (PP) an organization that is the enemy of the handicapped. Margaret Sanger, its founder, was a champion of eugenics who would have happily orchestrated the death of every handicapped baby in utero, little ones she considered "human weeds." PP contributes to the number of handicapped children by abortion on demand which damages women's bodies (especially the youngest) making them more prone to miscarriage and premature birth later. Prematurity is the greatest cause of physical and mental handicaps in newborns. And sadly, women are never told this in abortion mills going for the quick sell. They care about what's best for women as much as the proverbial used car salesman cares about what's best for the customer. Women who desire children later never know that the decision they make in the abortion mill today endangers their ability to carry a pregnancy to term later. Some lose the capacity altogether, like one young woman I counseled in a pregnancy center where I worked. But she was lucky; she almost died of septicemia.

The News Messenger, a local Virginia paper, posted an editorial which I've copied below the video. The writer says that "whether you believe what [Bob] said or what he meant to say, it's another example of him getting involved in some dispute that does nothing to improve the lives of his constituents." That statement is wrong! It ignores the point of Marshall's statement which was the physical consequences of abortion which women have the right to know.

If one woman reconsiders her decision because of the dangers to subsequent pregnancies, Bob will have saved her a life of sorrow and regret. Many women are pressured and arm-twisted into abortions they do not want. If they had one bit of support they would choose life. Bob's statement offered solid medical data which is denied by abortionists selling their bloody service. And that, indeed, has the potential to not only "improve the lives of his [female] constituents" but save the lives of his littlest ones.

As for the flap, it may be a blessing in disguise by magnifying the information on the dangers of abortion. That was the point, after all, of Bob's comments and women who see the information will be better able to make that famous "choice" in the light rather than in the dark where the paternalistic abortionists want to keep her.

EDITORIAL: Yet another Marshall controversy

Our View

Published: February 28, 2010

While one may argue that Del. Bob Marshall has been misrepresented in media accounts of remarks he made about abortion, it can't be disputed that he has put his foot in his mouth.

The hubbub is about whether Marshall said that children with disabilities were a punishment from God on women who abort their first child.
The original journalist who reported this as being the case stands by the reporting. Others have jumped on Marshall and harangued him for such a statement.

However, Marshall himself insists that what he said was misunderstood. The delegate said he was simply trying to point out statistics that indicate women who get abortions have "significant problems in their subsequent pregnancies."

Regardless, one thing is certain, Marshall has, once again, revealed how his religious views shape his legis-lative heart.

That's not necessarily a bad thing. Marshall has never really hidden his religious convictions and, given the fact that he is elected over and over again, we must imagine that his beliefs reflect those of his constituents, or at least don't present a problem for them.

And this brouhaha makes another thing clear: When a legislator reveals his religious beliefs on a political subject, people get mad, perhaps rightfully so. After all, should religious belief underpin all the actions taken by our government? Some say yes, but others say no and complain that religion and governance should be separated by a thick wall. Needless to say, it is controversial.

In the end though, Marshall should be taken at face value. If he says he is being misunderstood, then he is.

We say this not only because he has a track record of looking out for the interests of disabled children, but also because he is an honest politician—he says what he means, and he does so unapologetically.

No matter the controversy, when Marshall says something that reflects a deeply held belief, he stands by it.

If he had said that children with disabilities were God's punishment to women who aborted their first child, then he would be defending his statement right now. The fact that he isn't is enough to tell us that he didn't say that. In our view, Bob Marshall backs down from no man ... only God.

But that is all distraction; the real focus of this situation shouldn't be, "Did he or didn't he?" Rather, whether you believe what he said or what he meant to say, it's another example of him getting involved in some dispute that does nothing to improve the lives of his constituents.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

More on the earthquake in Chile. The devastation is much less than Haiti because modern buildings are designed to sustain the shaking in the earthquake prone area. The death toll at present is fewer than 200. But several hospitals have been evacuated. Pray for all those impacted.

Visit Orate Fratres for a hero story from Haiti. Love is a sign of contradiction that brings order out of chaos. To bury the dead is a corporal act of mercy. Pray for the poor people of this devastated country.

Friday, February 26, 2010

The abortion industry loves to wave the bloody coat hanger and talk about the evil old days before abortion was legal and the back alley butchers killed "millions" of women. People accepted their ridiculous numbers as if "millions" of women's dead bodies could be covered up. The most abortion deaths during those bad old days were in the low hundreds per year in the entire country. Any death from abortion is a tragedy - two tragedies when the mother is killed as well as the baby and totally unnecessary when so much help is available.

No one really knows how many women today are dying from legal abortions. In the pre-Roe days, the doctors reporting the deaths were in the emergency rooms and had no reason to cover up the abortion statistics. Today, the doctors or their cronies are reporting their own deaths which are often covered up as "medical misadventure" or anesthetic reaction, etc. The word abortion may not even appear in the death report.

The abortion industry has also hidden the fact that many of the back alley butchers were doctors and that they simply moved their shingle from the back entrance off the alley to the front door after Roe v. Wade. Milan Vuitch, the abortionist responsible for the change in D.C.'s law, did abortions in his basement before he opened up his chop shops in D.C. and Maryland. He killed and maimed women in his abortion mills the same as in his basement butchery. And the front alley killings go on. Read about the Philadelphia killer. Babies aren't the only one butchered at the local abortion mill. Read Lime 5 for a real eye-opener about legal abortion. Those who are willing to do abortions are often willing to commit other brutalities as well.

I'm starting a new category on my sidebar today - Charities You Can Trust. We all want to know when we give to an organization the money goes where we expect it to go. Obviously there are administrative expenses associated with all charities, but the best charities, in my opinion, are those that minimize those expenses and maximize contributions to the program goal. I won't be listing many charities, just my favorites and the absence of a group on the list doesn't mean it isn't worthy as well. But I invite you to explore the websites of these groups and consider them for your almsgiving.

Pope St. Pius X warned over 100 years ago about modernism, the "synthesis of all heresies." Modernism is alive and well and directing the culture of death. Remember that we are called to be warriors in the Church Militant. Have you gone to a 40 Days for Life event yet or joined a group lobbying for life at your state capitol? Have you called your senators and congressman about Obama's health plan that expands the murder of the innocent? We're called to engage the culture not stand on the sidelines. Put on the armour of God and fight for life! Polish the sword of truth by studying the Gospel this Lent. Let's all live it and share it.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Do you think the mainstreaming of homosexuality was an accident? Think again. It was an orchestrated plan to get people to see sodomy as normal, just "different strokes for different folks." Read the blueprint and marvel at how America has been led to accept men buggering men as a normal and acceptable expression of "love." It was no accident. And what's particularly amazing to me as a mother is the number of parents who approve of this grave moral evil. Mostly I think they are blackmailed by their children. "Love me, love my sin." What a betrayal when parents are willing to go along with evil in order to get along with their children even when their children's eternal salvation is in jeopardy.

Admiral Mike Mullen has spent too much time rolling in the waves of political correctness. Homosexuals in the military are not just a bad idea, but a REALLY bad idea. Retired Navy Captain Jim Jefferis tells why. The question is, will anybody listen? All of our institutions have become laboratories for social experiments no matter who gets harmed in the process. Children are guinea pigs for Planned Parenthoods anything goes sex education and then Oprah and the world wonder why middle school kids engage in oral sex and don't think it's sex. Mom's kill their children by abortion and then the world gasps in astonished horror when teenage parents throw their newborn in a dumpster. The law sanctions the murder of brain damaged patients like Terri Schiavo and laments the parent who bashes out the brains of his handicapped infant.

At least once a day I shake my head and say we live in a lunatic asylum which is insulting to lunatics because most of them actually have a more acute moral sense than the faculty at our Ivy League Universities (Think Peter Singer and his philosophy that pigs have more rights than babies!) and certainly more than Admiral Mullen.

If the Navy had any sense they'd pitch out Admiral Mullen and promote Captain Jefferis to Admiral and bring him out of retirment to restore common sense to what has become the most politically correct of the Armed Forces. My dad, who was a Rear Admiral when he retired, must be rolling over in his grave over the insanity going on in the service. I'm glad he only lived to see Zumwalt's idiocy with the long hair, sideburns, and lax discipline. I think he would have had plenty to say about Mullen, none of it complimentary.

We all need heroes and what a blessing it is to be able to report on one. David Benke, a Colorado middle school math teacher risked his life to tackle an assailant who opened fire in the school parking lot as kids left for the day. Three students were wounded, none fatally, before the gunman was wrestled to the ground and subdued by Benke and another teacher. But it was this modern day unarmed David who had the courage to attack the Goliath with a gun. Pray in thanksgiving for the courage of this teacher. The assault happened only three miles from Columbine High School. Read more here... and here....

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

When someone commented on my blog post that My Favorite Politician, Bob Marshall said handicaps were God's punishment on women who had abortions, I found it hard to believe. No wonder. It wasn't true. This is the typical kind of attack statesmen like Bob have to endure from bigoted know-nothings who will go to any ends to discredit him. What's especially disgusting is that Governor Bob McDonnell just presumed it was true without checking and publicly criticized Bob. That is exactly what Barack Obama did when a white police officer arrested his Harvard buddy. Check the facts, fellas, before you perpetuate slander especially when you are running as a pro-life candidate. Which reminds me, Mr. McDonnell, that you pledged on Laura Ingraham's radio show to cut funding to Planned Parenthood. But in the current budget PP gets a pass and abstinence funding gets the slash. Is this is another example of a "read my lips" Republican who will say anything before the election and do anything after? Shame on you, Bob McDonnell!

Yes, for two reasons. I've had a number of outside websites post links that either go to porno sites (Chinese no less) or advertise products. Moderating comments eliminates that problem completely even if the spam guard doesn't.

The second reason for moderation is more important though. We live in a rude and crude culture filled with barbarians who use four letter words as staples and think insults are arguments. Here's an example. An anonymous woman has been commenting on my post about My Favorite Politician, Bob Marshall. I can't be sure that the comments all come from one person but I suspect they do. She began with a comment that I declined to post because it was an ad hominem attack on Bob laced with an obscenity. After that didn't appear, another more moderate comment was sent saying Bob considered handicapped babies God's "punishment" for pregnancy. I posted it, but demurred. So another comment came with the quote that she said was from Bob. But the quote seemed to me to be talking about the "punishment" that occurs as natural consequence of our actions. After all, if you drink a bottle of scotch should you be surprised by the hangover the next morning?

That brought back a one-line comment calling me an "f***ing idiot!"

Needless to say, I did not post it. So a day later a looooooong comment laced with obscenities appeared in my moderation box attacking Bob Marshal again, attacking me again and then going on to attack all Catholic priests as pedophiles, the Church as an evil misogynist organization that hates women, and ending with "Heil Mary." If a computer touchpad could foam at the mouth hers certainly did. I can't imagine she thought I'd post such a hateful screed and I didn't. However, I did stop and pray for her after I read it because all I could think was, "Wow! this is one angry, unhappy woman." When I described the comment to my husband he said, "I bet she had an abortion." I agree. It's hard to imagine that kind of fury from someone with no ax to grind.

But the good news is that a person who gets angry still has a living conscience. A person with a dead conscience just shrugs. Anger when the conscience is pricked means the ability to feel guilt is still alive. And a person who has committed an evil act should feel guilty. (One of the most horrifying thing about the Nazi atrocities is that so many who committed them seemed to do so without a qualm of conscience. They were "just following orders.") Guilt is the first step to repentance and repentance brings forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and joy.

So I try not to get upset by the anger of those who disagree with me about fundamental moral issues that involve sinful behavior like child-killing and lust. Their anger is the natural response of a guilty conscience, one that still has enough life to feel the sting of St. Michael's spear point. St. Paul invites us to pray for our enemies to heap burning coals of love on their heads. If they only realized that we are their true friends rather than the "f***ing" Christian idiots they label us.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Whatever happened to the Catholic faith in America? I can answer that in one word: liberalism, defined as the philosophy that man can reach perfection through his own human efforts. The philosophy of liberalism is a sin against the first commandment. It puts man on a par with God as his own savior. Just give him enough time, enough money, and enough government control and he will create Utopia here on earth. God can take care of heaven in the hereafter; man will create heaven on earth today in the liberal state.

And liberalism doesn't just permeate the bishops' conference, the USCCB. It has infected every institution of the Church: health services and hospitals, charities, and, perhaps most dangerous to the future, education. As all effective tyrants know, take the minds of the young and you own the future.

Which brings me to the National Catholic Educational Association, which like many other so-called Catholic institutions, isn't very Catholic. And their upcoming convention illustrates it through the selection of Garrison Keillor as the keynote speaker. (Check out the program here. Keillor is speaking on Wednesday.) Garrison Keillor is smart, homey, and well-loved. Doesn't everyone enjoy Lake Wobegon where all the children are above average - well, at least the ones allowed to be born. Keillor is pro-abortion, pro-same-sex marriage, and is a consummate liberal. But there's one thing different about Keillor. He's smart enough to know that liberalism doesn't sell in middle America. So he wants liberals to stop letting the social issues drive away voters. He wants the liberal wolves to put on sheepskin and turn their hair-raising snarls into non-threatening little bahs. You can eat the fools later.

Smart man. And what better place to go to promote his homespun red, white, and blue image than the NCEA convention. Smart on his part and one more example of a Catholic group that doesn't care two hoots about Catholic doctrine. The fact that this is happening also illustrates that the bishops' statements are empty and toothless. I refer, of course, to the bishops' 2004 document on Catholics in Political Life. It states clearly that, “The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.” This statement isn't just addressing politicians, but all those who defy "our fundamental moral principles." What is more fundamental than the right to life?

The actions of the NCEA are a nose-thumbing response to the bishops' 2004 ban. They are giving Garrison Keillor a platform. A man who opposes fundamental Catholic truth is being featured as a KEYNOTE speaker. Oh, he no doubt won't say a word about his support for abortion and sodomy. He'll be funny and charming and will once again illustrate the reality that what the bishops say can be safely ignored by the liberal establishment that controls so much of the institutional church.

And it's nothing new, just heresy rehashed. Remember when the Arians controlled the Church? St. Jerome says, "the whole world groaned to find itself Arian?" During that time it was Athanasius contra mundum, the saint against the world! He encouraged the faithful during that terrible time, reminding them that while the Arians had the buildings, the orthodox people of God retained the true faith. The heretic-liberals of today may control the bureaucracies, but not the faith. While we fight the battles, we can be encouraged by the thought that the victory is not in doubt. Liberalism, like every philosophy spawned in hell, will be defeated.

So fight with courage and good cheer. And in this particular battle it might be fruitful to write a respectful letter to Archbishop John Nienstedt, of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/St. Paul, where the NCEA convention is taking place, asking him to remind the organizers about the bishops' ban on speakers like Keillor being given a platform. The Convention is scheduled for April 6-8 giving them plenty of time to choose an appropriate replacement. Be sure to begin and end your efforts in prayer. That's our real strength and the source of all wisdom.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Lent is five days old. Have you made a plan yet? When will you go to Confession? Have you already? Do you plan to go every two weeks as part of your Lenten journey? If you do, you will have one of the requirements for gaining a plenary indulgence every day. Do you know what the requirements are?

a particular work that carries the indulgence, for example saying the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament or in company with at least one other person

Communion and Confession within eight days of the work

detachment from sin, even venial sin

Wouldn't it be wonderful if your almsgiving included a plenary indulgence every day for someone other than yourself? Think of how grateful a relative in Purgatory would be if you freed him in time to celebrate Easter in Heaven. Think how eager that soul would be to solicit your own quick exit from Purgatory when the time comes.

We'd all like to think we'll go straight to heaven when we die, but how many of us will really be ready to see Christ? Our salvation is secured by Him, of course, but will we have made full reparation in atonement for our sins? Protestants say Jesus does it all, but St. Paul says we need to make up what's lacking in the suffering of Christ. What's lacking but our own act of the will to offer our sufferings in union with him and in atonement for sin, our own sins and those of others?

As Catholics we know that forgiveness isn't all that's needed. We need to repair the damage from sin. Like a child who breaks a window there's still something to be done even if the owner forgives the transgression. The window is still broken. Perfect contrition for our sins is a perfect repair, but many of us won't have it when we die. That's what the mercy of Purgatory is for - the opportunity to repair the brokenness of our cold hearts. Joining our prayers to the sufferings of those in Purgatory is an act of communion with the Church Suffering and an act of charity. It's like the dad who picks up his tools and helps his child fix the window.

This Lent why not pick up the tools for those who can no longer do it for themselves. Now the only really hard part is to eliminate the love for our vices that keeps us from being detached from sin. Ultimately, that's what Lent is all about.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Modesty is something most people don't think about. If an outfit is considered fashionable, they wear it. A few years ago I had a conversation with a young adult about her clothing. She was on the way to Mass by the way. But she was wearing ripped jeans, the kind you buy that are pre-ripped. I mean the kind you pay big bucks for that are ripped and shredded and look like they were retrieved from a trash can at the Salvation Army. But the pricetag is usually hefty. Go figure!

My comment to the young lady was, "I honestly don't understand that fashion statement." She looked back at me in my skirt and jacket, stockings and heels and replied, a little snippily, "I don't understand your fashion statement either." Now this young person happens to be someone I love very much. If she had been a stranger I wouldn't have said anything. Why should a stranger care about my opinion? But I truly don't understand someone I thought had common sense, being taken in by a fashion industry that sells clothing that would likely be rejected by a hobo (except kids dressing up for Halloween). I wonder if she would blacken her face with burnt cork if Revlon sold it as the latest look.

Generally when I talk about modesty I'm referring to clothing that is too revealing or provocative. And that certainly is a more serious issue. When clothing draws attention to a woman's breasts or her crotch there is clearly a sexual message that can be a temptation and occasion of sin to young men. The same for men in tight jeans and speedo swim suits. If little is left to the imagination, the clothing is immodest. What is its purpose except an invitation to lust. It's also unappealing to see someone, man or woman, bend over and show a bare buttox. We used to have a standing joke at our house about the "dishwasher repair man" whose low slung pants covered little when he bent over. And women's hip-hugging, low slung jeans make many look like dishwasher apprentices.

But there is something also immodest about ripped and shredded clothing especially when the holes and tears are positioned to draw attention to the upper thighs.

Which brings me to the question of exactly what is modesty? It's more than avoiding too much cleavage. It's also about not drawing attention to oneself by bizarre and outrageous clothing, tattoos, spiked purple hair, body piercings, etc. Modesty doesn't thrust itself into the limelight or demand attention. It doesn't have a loud and shrill voice. Modesty is the companion of humility and the guardian of chastity. It's a beautiful virtue that is too little evident in our vain and hedonistic culture.

Modesty doesn't refuse to engage the other in conversation, but speaks gently and never uses vulgarity. Modesty never swears or curses. Modesty has clean eyes, those eyes which are the windows of the soul. And all the clothing and jewelry and makeup is selected to draw attention to those windows and give the other a glimpse into the sanctuary within. Modesty is one of the most unappreciated and unpracticed of the virtues, but what a blessing it is to the one who discovers or rediscovers it.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Cardinal O'Malley seems like a very nice man. He looks like St. Francis after all - except the pictures of St. Francis always show him thin. He wasn't as generous to "brother ass" as most brothers, priests, and bishops. But I'm truly speechless over Cardinal O'Malley's recent interview saying the Vatican needs to change canon law to give a clearer directive on denying Communion to pro-abortion politicians.

Is he serious?

Canon law 915 is very clear that those engaged in egregious, on-going scandal should be denied Communion. Does the Church really need a chapter called "specific sins that call for denial of Communion?" Does canon law have to say, "The hookers on the local street corner a block from the Cathedral may not be given Communion Sunday morning after doing tricks all night? No Communion for the local abortionist until he publicly repudiates his grizzly business, etc." Politicians like Kennedy caused far more abortions through his support for abortion than the poor frightened woman who kills her baby in a panic. But she's excommunicated and he gets a funeral fit for a king - King Herod, perhaps?

Cardinal Francis Arinze, Archbishop Raymond Burke, and the Pope himself when we called him Cardinal Ratzinger have all spoken out against giving Communion to publicly pro-abortion Catholics.

Maybe Cardinal O'Malley is waiting for a vision. Meanwhile, Catholics are waiting for bishops to defend the faith.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Doctors at the Mayo clinic have developed a new and easier method of CPR called Continuous Chest Compression. It's simple and has the potential to save lives in emergency situations when no medical staff is easily available. It's perfect for adults not for children under eight and infants.

Want to be holy this Lent? In some dioceses the "fasting" recommended is all about reducing your carbon footprint. What a substitute for walking in the footsteps of our Saviour! The "carbon fast" is an example of ecumenical silliness . Two senior bishops in England (Church of England, not Catholic) are sponsoring a carbon fast at Trafalgar Square. In fact, the impetus for this nonsense seems to have originated in the UK from an environmental group called Tearfund. The handout from the Archdiocese of Washington Environmental Outreach Committee says it was "adapted" from Tearfund and other sources.

So how can you become holy this Lent?

Replace all your lightbulbs with those newfangled twisty things that leave you in the dark.

Skip using your ipod one day.

Turn down your thermostat

Take a shower instead of a bath. (Hey, just go dirty. That will save even more energy!)

It goes on and on in like vein. And this kind of fast will make us all saints? Only in the Church of What's Happening Now! Janet, a blogging friend, has done some research on this which you can read about here. This nonsense is more in keeping with the Gospel according to Gaia and illustrates what Chesterton said. When you stop believing in God you don't believe in nothing, you'll fall for anything! Can these folks really believe in the God of the universe when they have reduced him to this silliness?

Remember the song Where are the Clowns? Well now we know -- they're in chanceries all over the country trading the Catholic faith for earth worship. What's especially laughable is that, on top of everything, it's based on pseudo-scientific claptrap! Now I want to know whether Archbishop Wuerl knew about this. It sure makes him look foolish. And I couldn't find anything about it on the website. If it was there and removed when the ridicule started, maybe it's time for the archbishop to eliminate that Environmental Outreach Committee. Why should the people in the pew fund this kind of ridiculous nonsense and why would any bishop want to let them make him look like the ringmaster at a circus? All he needs to do is chnge the cut of his chasuble.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

God sure has a sense of humor. The guests invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb have given their excuses for not attending: cafeteria Catholicism, dissent, hostility toward doctrine, itchy ears, etc. But those along the highways, the byways, and the hinterlands long what the Church offers -- orthodoxy.

As these folks join our ranks they will bolster the faith with their love and commitment to the ancient truths of the Gospel which mainline Episcopals/Anglicans throw out as old fashioned. Pray that many will join and enrich us with their faith. Jesus prayed "that all might be one" at the Last Supper. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of that prayer.

Do you have ashes on your forehead today? How will that sign of penance affect you? Will it be just a visible sign that you're a Catholic and Lent has arrived - washed off and forgotten? Or will Lent be asignificant time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that renews your soul during the next six weeks? Answering that question is what Lent is all about for each one of us. But there are plenty of helps. Catholic Culture is one of my favorite sources for spiritual growth. Visit their Lenten Workshop if you need some ideas as you begin your spiritual journey. Repent and believe the Good News of the Gospel!

Last Fall during the very public dispute between Congressman Patrick Kennedy (son of Ted Kennedy), Congressman from Rhode Island, and his bishop, Thomas Tobin, over Communion, the bishop took the opportunity to correct Kennedy publicly in order to minimize scandal to his flock. His eloquent defense of "What it means to be Catholic" is worth reading again as we begin Lent. Let the next six weeks be used as a serious opportunity to draw closer to Holy Mother Church, embracing her doctrines with an open heart.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN KENNEDY

By Bishop Thomas. Tobin

Since our recent correspondence has been rather public, I hope you don’t mind if I share a few reflections about your practice of the faith in this public forum. I usually wouldn’t do that – that is speak about someone’s faith in a public setting – but in our well-documented exchange of letters about health care and abortion, it has emerged as an issue. I also share these words publicly with the thought that they might be instructive to other Catholics, including those in prominent positions of leadership.

For the moment I’d like to set aside the discussion of health care reform, as important and relevant as it is, and focus on one statement contained in your letter of October 29, 2009, in which you write, “The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.” That sentence certainly caught my attention and deserves a public response, lest it go unchallenged and lead others to believe it’s true. And it raises an important question: What does it mean to be a Catholic?
"The fact that I disagree with the hierarchy on some issues does not make me any less of a Catholic.”

Well, in fact, Congressman, in a way it does. Although I wouldn’t choose those particular words, when someone rejects the teachings of the Church, especially on a grave matter, a life-and-death issue like abortion, it certainly does diminish their ecclesial communion, their unity with the Church. This principle is based on the Sacred Scripture and Tradition of the Church and is made more explicit in recent documents.

For example, the “Code of Canon Law” says, “Lay persons are bound by an obligation and possess the right to acquire a knowledge of Christian doctrine adapted to their capacity and condition so that they can live in accord with that doctrine.” (Canon 229, #1)

The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” says this: “Mindful of Christ’s words to his apostles, ‘He who hears you, hears me,’ the faithful receive with docility the teaching and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.” (#87)

Or consider this statement of the Church: “It would be a mistake to confuse the proper autonomy exercised by Catholics in political life with the claim of a principle that prescinds from the moral and social teaching of the Church.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 2002)

There’s lots of canonical and theological verbiage there, Congressman, but what it means is that if you don’t accept the teachings of the Church your communion with the Church is flawed, or in your own words, makes you “less of a Catholic.”

But let’s get down to a more practical question; let’s approach it this way: What does it mean, really, to be a Catholic? After all, being a Catholic has to mean something, right?

Well, in simple terms – and here I refer only to those more visible, structural elements of Church membership – being a Catholic means that you’re part of a faith community that possesses a clearly defined authority and doctrine, obligations and expectations. It means that you believe and accept the teachings of the Church, especially on essential matters of faith and morals; that you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish; that you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly; that you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially.

Congressman, I’m not sure whether or not you fulfill the basic requirements of being a Catholic, so let me ask: Do you accept the teachings of the Church on essential matters of faith and morals, including our stance on abortion? Do you belong to a local Catholic community, a parish? Do you attend Mass on Sundays and receive the sacraments regularly? Do you support the Church, personally, publicly, spiritually and financially?

In your letter you say that you “embrace your faith.” Terrific. But if you don’t fulfill the basic requirements of membership, what is it exactly that makes you a Catholic? Your baptism as an infant? Your family ties? Your cultural heritage?

Your letter also says that your faith “acknowledges the existence of an imperfect humanity.” Absolutely true. But in confronting your rejection of the Church’s teaching, we’re not dealing just with “an imperfect humanity” – as we do when we wrestle with sins such as anger, pride, greed, impurity or dishonesty. We all struggle with those things, and often fail.

Your rejection of the Church’s teaching on abortion falls into a different category – it’s a deliberate and obstinate act of the will; a conscious decision that you’ve re-affirmed on many occasions. Sorry, you can’t chalk it up to an “imperfect humanity.” Your position is unacceptable to the Church and scandalous to many of our members. It absolutely diminishes your communion with the Church.

Congressman Kennedy, I write these words not to embarrass you or to judge the state of your conscience or soul. That’s ultimately between you and God. But your description of your relationship with the Church is now a matter of public record, and it needs to be challenged. I invite you, as your bishop and brother in Christ, to enter into a sincere process of discernment, conversion and repentance.

It’s not too late for you to repair your relationship with the Church, redeem your public image, and emerge as an authentic “profile in courage,” especially by defending the sanctity of human life for all people, including unborn children. And if I can ever be of assistance as you travel the road of faith, I would be honored and happy to do so.

Shame on the two Virginia bishops whose lobby arm was used to help defeat a bill recognizing the personhood of preborn children. These two bishops, Paul S. Loverde of Arlington and Francis DiLorenzo of Richmond, constantly lobby against the death penalty under all circumstances and in favor of more state aid for illegal immigrants, but could not stand up for the fundamental right to life of the innocent baby in the womb. Their support of minor pro-life bills on parental consent and funding issues is all well and good, but abandoning the basic right of the babies is shocking! It is consistent, however, with Bishop DiLorenzo's failure to stop Catholic Charities of Richmond from taking a ward of the state under their care for an abortion in 2008 and then covering it up until it was about to become public. This is what happens when bishops are more tuned into the secular vision of "social justice" than the Catholic view. They make intrinsic moral evils less important than matters of prudential judgment. Bob Marshall and the two delegates voting in favor of the bill, Clay Athey and Jackson Miller, deserve a thank you for their efforts to protect our tiniest and most helpless brothers and sisters.

Why HB 112 Personhood Bill Failed

Despite excellent testimony in favor of HB 112, Delegate Bob Marshall's bill to begin the process of restoring civil rights for preborn children, HB 112 was rejected five to two in the House Courts of Justice Constitutional Laws subcommittee Wednesday, February 10.

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli sent his Solicitor General to testify in support of passing HB 112 and to affirm its constitutionality. Attorney Rita Dunaway expertly fielded questions of Committee members. Attorney Pat McSweeney along with Delegate Marshall also testified in favor of HB 112.

The ACLU, Planned Parenthood and NARAL representatives testified against HB 112. Virginia Family Foundation (VFF) representatives were present but did not speak. The Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) told the Committee that the bill's purpose was acceptable, but they did not support HB 112.

Delegate Dave Albo cited the VCC's position in his explanation for voting against HB 112. “Even the Catholic Church through its legislative affairs representative stated that … the Church does not think this bill is the way to implement it. (See Black Velvet Bruce Lee (BVBL) political Blog (Comment 11 at http:///www.bvbl.net/index.php/2010/02/11/are-albo-and-kilgore-pro-abortion/#comments) Delegate Kilgore in a 2/11/10 email told an HB 112 supporter that "The bill as presented was not even supported by the Catholic Church."

Had delegates Kilgore and Albo voted for HB 112, it would have passed to the full House of Delegates! (The position of the two Virginia Catholic bishops and the Catholic Conference in not supporting HB 112 is in direct opposition to the testimony of four Catholic American Cardinals before the US Senate in 1974. The Cardinals said establishing legal personhood for preborn children was essential to outlawing abortion. For details, contact Del. Bob Marshall.)

Opponents to HB 112 claimed the bill would have adverse consequences, such as counting preborn children in the census, criminalizing miscarriages as homicide, outlawing birth control, taking income tax deductions for children before birth, or closing in vitro clinics, yet in the three states which have laws similar to HB 112, nothing like this has happened. HB 112, though not identical, was modeled after a 1986 Missouri law which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Delegates Albo and Kilgore both told Delegate Marshall and other HB 112 supporters Wednesday night at the hearing and later that had HB 112 contained the original Missouri language they would have supported HB 112. Delegate Marshall therefore had the Missouri language drawn up as an amendment the next day, hoping a Courts Committee member would offer the original Missouri language at the full committee meeting on Friday.

However, on Friday, February 12, no Republican member of the full Courts of Justice Committee brought up HB 112 in order to amend it, apparently because a Republican Caucus policy (applies only to Republican delegates) states that bills failing in Subcommittee should not be taken up by the full committee even though the Rules of the House of Delegates and Parliamentary Rules allow for such actions.

Delegate Albo noted that HB 112 did not stop even one abortion. Delegate Marshall explained that HB 112 was not introduced to outlaw abortion now. However, HB 112 challenged the two legal assumptions of Roe vs. Wade by affirming the humanity and personhood of preborn children, and providing a definition for a human being which the Roe Court said it was unable to do. However, HB 112 would require Virginia Courts to allow “wrongful death” suits for the parents of a preborn child who was killed. HB 112 would also create a public policy tension by questioning why some persons are not protected under Virginia law, and then later offering a direct challenge to the conclusion of Roe and Doe by outlawing abortion and providing for criminal penalties for doctors who perform abortions.

Delegate Albo wrote to a constituent on February 12, that HB 112 "is in violation of Roe vs. Wade." This is not correct as the original Missouri language was upheld in 1989 by the US Supreme Court in Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services, which also affirmed Roe vs. Wade.

This fact was explained to Delegate Albo by attorney Rita Dunaway at a public hearing on February 10 and in a memo from Rita Dunaway sent to Del. Albo several days before the hearing. Del. Albo also wrote that HB 112 would make the Pill and In-Vitro clinics illegal, even though he was told that this has not happened in Missouri, Louisiana or Illinois which have similar laws, and the Dunaway memo pointed out this claim was false. Delegate Marshall also explained that a corpus dilecti, (dead body) is needed for proof of homicide, which would be impossible to produce by use of the Pill.

HB 112 provided rules of legal construction for statutes for Virginia Courts and state agencies to affirm personhood for preborn children. HB 112 could not be applied as a criminal statute because of constitutional due process requirements to clearly specify the elements of a crime.

Attorney Pat McSweeney (former Chair, Republican Party of Virginia) eloquently told the Subcommittee that it was unconscionable for legislators to duck the simple task of affirming personhood for preborn children and that legal definitions matter and have profound personal and social consequences. McSweeney pointed to the practice of German guards, who wrote on box cars containing Jews, the number of "sticke" which meant "pieces," a dehumanizing label which allowed the Nazi’s to rationalize the killings.

Please ask your delegate if they support the original HB 112 or with the modified Missouri language. This personhood fight might not be over for 2010 just yet.

P.S. Below is the original Missouri personhood language applied to Virginia.

1. The General Assembly of Virginia finds that:

(1) The life of each human being begins at conception;
(2) Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being;

(3) The natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of their unborn child.

2. The laws of Virginia shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and Constitution of Virginia.

3. As used in this section, the term "unborn children" or "unborn child" shall include all unborn child or children or the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development.

4. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as creating a cause of action against a woman for indirectly harming her unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care.

HB 112 provides that:

1. § 1. That a human being is any organism, including an embryo, who possesses a genome specific for and consistent with a member of the species Homo sapiens. For the purposes of certain inherent and constitutionally guaranteed rights, every human being is deemed a legal person in the Commonwealth.
§ 2. Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being, and the natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of their unborn children.

§ 3. Subject to the United States Constitution and the Constitution of Virginia, the laws of the Commonwealth shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of all human beings, including unborn children at every stage of development, the equality and inherent rights guaranteed by Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia and the right to due process guaranteed by Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of Virginia.

§4. Nothing herein shall be construed to expand, limit, or otherwise modify any determination of law regarding what constitutes appropriate medical services for pregnant women.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

How many children in the last forty years have NEVER seen a nun in a habit. That is changing with vigorous new orders like the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist where the average age is 26. These young women are smart and zealous and in love with the Lord. And now millions of people have been introduced to them and their way of life. I loved listening to these fresh-faced young women so filled with idealism and a spirit of cheerfulness. What a contrast to the culture of death.

I'm happy to say that my dear friend, Stephanie Block who has researched the Alinskyite roots of the CCHD for years has a beautiful young daughter in this order. I had the privilege of meeting her at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception a few years ago. These young women will restore your hope in the future. And the Lord I'm sure will do great things with their exposure on Oprah. I'll bet they are all praying for her conversion because her new age pantheism does not lead to God. Isn't it interesting, though, how God often uses the worldly for His own purposes. Oprah no doubt thought this was her idea, but, as believers, we know it was God's. Pray for Oprah. Consider the impact of her conversion. Wow! And the snippets of Gregorian Chant are wonderful.

For all the Real Catholic TV coverage of the USCCB and to sign the Reform CCHD petition, go here. It's time to send a strong message to the bishops that faithful Cathoics will no longer be patsies for those willing to collect for the poor while funneling money to the culture of death.

The big push for the diocesan Bishop's Lenten Appeal was today. It actually was scheduled for last week, but, with all the snow, the pastor postponed if for a week. Other parishes probably did the same. That meant, of course, that the bishop's homily didn't match the readings for the day, but after making all those CDs....

I'll be honest. My husband and I don't support any diocesan collections these days. Frankly, we didn't even give to the Haitian Relief collection through the Church. We did some research and contributed to a different group. I just don't trust the bishops any more to use our money in any responsible and accountable way. Check out all the posts on this blog about the USCCB scandals, the CCHD scandals, etc. ad nauseum and you'll get the picture. Oh we give to the Church and to charity, an absolute obligation, but in our own way: monthly donations to the Poor Clares, our parish development fund, and a crisis pregnancy center; donations to activist pro-life politicians (yes, I consider that charity for the unborn); and other periodic donations to solid Catholic colleges and individual ministries we find trustworthy. I don't find the diocese trustworthy. When the Virginia Catholic Conference uses its Catholic Advocacy Day to lobby on bills about immigration, the death penalty, and scholarships for the poor, but takes a neutral position on a bill supporting personhood for the preborn (HB 112) - well - they just don't deserve either my trust or my money.

With regard to the BLA here in Arlington, I have a lot of questions. First of all, why do we have to have a professional fundraiser who eats up a significant chunk of the contributions, not to mention the cost of the slick insterts in the diocesan paper, the multiple mailings, and the handouts in church. A few years ago, a priest in the diocese serving as a parochial administrator met his church's goal for the bishops' capital campaign. (Can't recall the name of it at the moment - there's always some slick slogan.) He was punished by being demoted back to an assistant pastor position because he didn't do it according to the fundraiser's manual. If the CEO of Ford treated an effective employee that way, well, it certainly wouldn't be very smart. But I suppose the priest showed that all that money going to the fundraiser was unnecessary when a hard-working, beloved priest could just ask and the people would open their pocketbooks and meet the goal.

But the thing that bothers me most about the BLA is using the Mass to manipulate people into pledging. We started today with an audiotaped homily from the bishop. (Isn't a recorded homily a liturgical abuse? I know several priests who won't play the recording. Good for them.) After that the pastor went to the pulpit and led the people in the pew giving detailed instructions on filling out the pledge card. "Now write your name and address on the proper line. Now select the amount you want to give and check the box, etc. etc." We did not take the card and neither did the couple sitting next to us. Somehow I can't see St. Jean Vianney, the patron of parish priests, using his homily time that way. But in many places the bishops are quicker to serve the Almighty Dollar than Almighty God. And God help the parish priest who disobeys as did the administrator I mentioned previously. (Actually, using the function of parochial administrator as a trial position for pastor is NOT in accordance with its purpose in canon law. cc. 538-541; 549)

I'm sorry not to be able to contribute directly to the diocese, but I don't think our money is being well used. Spending over a million dollars renovating the convent at St. Thomas More to fix up a luxury mansion for the bishop's house is hard to square with the spirit of poverty that should imbue the life of any cleric. I know bishops and diocesan priests don't take vows of poverty, but where is the spirit of voluntary sacrifice and voluntary simplicity that illustrates the life of even the wealthiest saints? And what's with tripling the size of many offices at the chancery since Bishop Loverde came? And why is the chancery door locked with two receptionists on buzzer duty?

Frankly, I'm sick of bloated church bureaucracies with locked doors (like the USCCB offices in Washington, D.C.) where the people have to run the gauntlet to get anywhere near chancery administrators. I've reached the point, after addressing many scandals and getting a regular run-around, that I believe some employees are just there to provide cover. Why does a bishop need a PR person and speechwriters? There is something fundamentally wrong with the way things are going in the Catholic Church in the U.S. these days. Many dioceses operate more and more like the White House rather than God's house.

Which means we need to pray hard for poor Holy Mother Church, the battered bride of Christ, whose beauty has been so disfigured by so many with the responsibility to protect and defend her.

Lent is a good time to spiritually reflect on how to respond to problems in the Church. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are important components of the preparation leading up to Easter. But may I suggest you be spiritually smart about your almsgiving. If your bishop is still supporting the CCHD and other questionable fundraising programs that advance abortion and same-sex marriage, cut him off. It's too much like giving clean needles to a drug addict. But don't just cut off the money. Send a lovely letter assuring him of your prayers and tell him where you're sending your money instead.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Too hot? Blame global warming. Too cold? Blame glabal warming. Too little snow for the Olympics in Vancouver? Blame global warming. So much snow in D.C. the federal government shuts down for almost a week? Blame global warming. No matter what happens with the weather around the world, the eco-alarmists will blame it on global warming. The question is, will the lemmings keep following these quack scientists?

On the way home from COSTCO today I was listening to Rush whom I often find funny. And he didn't fail to give me a laugh when he said Obama's plan was to get him to retire. How is that, you ask? Well, Rush has said he'll be on the air until everyone in the country agrees with him and Obama, he said, is helping him reach that goal.

But what got me ticked off was his response to a caller who asked if he needed to support Constitutional Amendments to end abortion and homosexual marriage to be a conservative. Rush basically said, no, both those issues are states' rights matters and England didn't have an abortion controversy because the people voted on it. (I'm not sure that's true since they have an active pro-life movement there.)

Even Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun knew that when he wrote Roe v. Wade. Blackmun said "the unborn have never been recognized in the law as persons in the whole sense." But he also said, "The appellee and certain amici argue that the fetus is a 'person' within the language and meaning of the Fourteenth Amendment. In support of this, they outline at length and in detail the well-known facts of fetal development. If this suggestion of personhood is established, the appellant's case, of course, collapses, [410 U.S. 113, 157] for the fetus' right to life would then be guaranteed specifically by the Amendment."

Ultrasound technology and other advancements in the understanding of life in the womb have shown how much the baby is a "person in the whole sense," only a very little one. Just as slaves were not recognized as "whole persons" by the Dred Scott decision (it took the 13th and 14th amendments to the Constitution to make them full and free citizens) Roe v. Wade made the unborn modern slaves, the property of their mothers.

The personhood of the preborn should be self evident. If they are human genetically, they're persons. And they are. No woman ever gave birth to a cantaloupe.

The pro-life movement is the modern civil rights movement. The only difference between blacks fighting for their natural rights and the preborn is their visibility. The media showed the fire hoses, dogs, and billy clubs being used against blacks who marched for their rights. The instruments of violence used against the babies, the suction machines, knives, and poisonous chemicals, are hidden by a complicit media who don't want the truth to be shown.

But just as slavery ended so will the violence against the babies. It must. And while we fight for legal recognition by a Personhood Amendment to the Constitution, we also must continue to do everything we can to save those "being led to the slaughter" by sidewalk counseling, education (including those graphic pictures), and compassionate assistance to women in crisis.

Get it right, Rush! This is not a states' right issue. Voters can't make abortion right by a majority vote any more than they could make slavery right by majority rule. And those who want women to have a "choice" are no different than those who supported the "right to choose" for slaveowners and slavetraders.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Obama has nothing positive to say about America. Ever since becoming president he has apologized for everything we stand for. But watch this video and see how he treats Islam. What's going on here? Remember at Christmastime the Obamas refused to have any Christian symbols in the White House. Does this man have America's interests at heart or is something else going on here? And what exactly is it?

I'm working on an article for the next issue of the Les Femmes newsletter on the erosion of parental rights. More and more government is taking control of what should be family decisions about the education and health of children. When you read articles about children being taken for abortions by teachers, given flu shots by the school nurse, indoctrinated in homosexuality, etc. without the knowledge or consent of parents, you know something is drastically wrong. When you read about a doctor refusing to release the medical data about a minor child's care without the child's consent, again -- something is drastically wrong. It's time for parents to fight back.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The USCCB has absolutely no authority in the Catholic Church, but it is doing much to undermine the legitimate authority of the Church. The USCCB is a leftwing radical organization that needs to be defunded and eliminated. The depth of the rot at the USCCB is beyond reform. It should be closed, sold, and its millions returned to the dioceses. In turn the bishops in the dioceses should return the money to the parishes. Of course, since many of the bishops are part of the problem they may just pour the money into renovations at the bishop's house and chancery offices and salaries for more staff, like the two receptionists in Arlington who buzz folks in to the LOCKED chancery building.

Thanks to homeschooling mom from MD who put me onto this. Watch and listen to Al Gore spout hot air. The comparison between Earth and Venus is absurd. In case you haven't noticed, Al, Venus is a lot closer to the sun than we are and has a different atmosphere. You depend on the ignorance of the masses (thanks to the dumbing down of education) to spout your nonsense. And note the end. What's the solution? MORE TAXES!

Check out the second video to hear Craig Compeau, creator of the sculpture, challenge Al to debate. Gore's crusade is, as weather channel founder John Coleman says, "the greatest scam in history."

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

If Americans don't start reading the Constitution and reading the bills our legislators vote on, we will lose all our rights. George W. Bush gave us the monstrosity of the Patriot Act that violates the Constitutional rights of the people. Watch these incredible videos. The government is an artificial institution based on fear and force. Under the Patriot Act FBI agents can write a search warrant without a judge and serve it secretly and it is illegal for the recipient to reveal it to another. That violation of individual rights reflects an out-of-control government. And the only protection against an out of control government is our Constitution.

Under the Constitution, the states have the power to nullify a law of Congress that interferes with their sovereignty. An example of this can be seen currently in a historic bill introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, The Virginia Health Care Freedom Act, HB 10. Learn more about it here. Listen to these videos and read Judge Napolitano's books. He is a voice of common sense in a world gone mad. If we don't stand up and fight for our freedoms we will lose them!

The Patriot Act is up for reauthorization. If American don't act this tyrannical bill will continue and Americans will be prosecuted under its unconstitutional provisions. Please contact your Senators and Congressmen and ask them to vote against reauthorizing this terrible law.

Al Gore credits scientist Roger Revelle, a professor at Harvard, for his global warming crusade. (Incidentally, Gore earned a D in Revelle's class.) But when Revelle later repudiated man-made global warming and apologized for sending so many in the wrong direction on the relationship between CO2 and global warming, Gore labeled him "senile."

Al Gore won't debate or take questions from the press. Why? Because he knows the data doesn't support his extremist views and he's doing a good job, with the help of government and the media, pulling the wool over the eyes of the public.

Global warming has always been about the accumulation of power and money and Gore's made plenty from it. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at the U.N. which oversees global warming does no science itself, but is a conduit for billions of dollars in grants mostly from the U.S. And those grants go to those who support the global warming myth. That's why Climategate is so important and must continue to be exposed. The IPCC clique admitted locking out scientists who won't get behind their bad science. The data doesn't support their claim that global warming is mandmade and a threat to the planet. It's a political agenda that will be used to control every aspect of our lives.

John Coleman, meteorologist and founder of the Weather Channel, recently hosted a documentary on global warming. Coleman calls global warming, the "greatest scam in history." It's being used to justify massive tax increases and the control of every aspect of our lives. Those who try to get the facts out about global warming are caller "deniers" as if to link us with the same kind of crazy people who deny the Holocaust.

Global Warming: the Other Side shows some of the world's most respected scientists offering the facts that dispute the hype and the Hollywood theatrics around the hoax of global warming. Watch the series and get "the other side."

The president can set up anything he likes, but Congress has to fund it. The problems we have in this country fall at the feet of the men and women on Capitol Hill. The executive branch can only do what the 500+ legislators fund in the budget. The problem is the democrat-controlled Congress has no problems spending all of our money and saddling our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with massive debt. Throw the bums out in 2010! We can't afford them.

Columnist Matt Abbott has a great article at Renew America on the USCCB Controversy and the Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad. He wants to see the USCCB dismantled agreeing with political analyst Tom Roeser. More and more Catholics agree. Reform is impossible. The liberal, stonewalling bureaucracy is so riddled with scandal it seems beyond redemption. It's been taken over by many who have an agenda diametrically opposed to Church doctrine. How do you reform a group like that? I don't care how pro-life these folks are personally. For some reason they are willing to coddle and enable the enemies of the faith. It's time to stop pouring more millions into this corrupt organization and hand out the pink slips, turn off the lights, and lock the doors.

This video was on Pat Buchanan's website. It's a lecture by a criminal lawyer followed by a police officer responding. As someone who's been arrested numerous times for trying to rescue unborn babies, I found it very interesting and I will follow its advice. But the video speaks for itself. It's good advice to file in the back of your mind, especially if you are a pro-life sidewalk counsellor at an abortion mill, a sidewalk activist at Notre Dame, or a participant in any other public pro-life activity. You're a target. Don't be an easy one.

Every bigoted movement works untiringly to dehumanize its victims. Think of the words used to describe slaves, Jews, Chinese, Hispanics, etc. in order to treat them as second-class citizens. Killer movements like Planned Parenthood and their abortion allies go to great lengths to convince people that the infant in the womb is "just" an embryo, fetus, product of pregnancy, blob of cells, fertilized egg, mass of protoplasm, etc. As Msgr. William Smith often said, social engineering begins with verbal engineering. First use distorted language to butcher the truth, then use the suction machine to butcher the baby. When one points out that the word fetus is Latin for "young one" and that the fertilized egg contains the same genetic makeup as a full grown adult they simply repeat their lies and distortions with a louder voice. And they've had plenty of help from the mainstream media which is filled with liberals who are expert liars and always happy to oblige.

But you can only suppress the truth for so long. Ultrasound technology has put a human face on the "products of pregnancy" in the womb. When a ten week baby appears like a little gymnast rolling and tumbling in the amniotic sac his little arms and legs clearly visible, it's hard to characterize him as a blob of protoplasm. When the twelve week baby is smiling and yawning, she's obviously a little person already dependent on her mommy in a way only slightly different from the newborn. Yes ultrasound has put a human face on the baby.

However, there's another face to the pro-life movement as well: the survivors. Of course every baby conceived after Roe v. Wade is a survivor in one sense. But even more compelling are the actual survivors of attempted abortions. Think of the impact on the conversation of a young woman saying, "I understand what you're saying about a woman's right to choose, but my birth mother tried to kill me by a saline abortion and I survived. I'm grateful to be alive. Was I given a choice?"

Melissa Ohden of Sioux City, Iowa is one such witness. She survived a saline abortion in 1977 and now shares her story around the country.

Melissa's intent with her public speaking is to give a face and a voice to those children who experienced abortion, as she did, but did not survive.

"It's about being able to reflect what the true reality of what abortion is," she said. "We in the pro-life movement,talk about unborn children all the time, but we don't hear them. That's one reason the Lord saved my life, to talk about that, about my unborn brothers and sisters." (Read more here.)

More and more stories of abortion survivors are appearing in the news. Is it any wonder that young people are the most pro-life age group of all? Their peers have run the abortion gauntlet and they are the blessed ones, the chosen, those rescued "from being dragged to the slaughter."

Celebrate life today with a rosary of thanksgiving for all those saved from the abortionist's knife, particularly young people like Gianna Jessen, saline survivor; Melissa Ohden, saline survivor; Pam Stenzel, conceived by a rapist; Tim Tebow, whose mom was advised to abort; and all the others like them who survived a close encounter with the culture of death.

It's snowing again and, although I still find it beautiful, it makes me tired to watch it. My friend Janet at Restore D.C. Catholicism calls snow the "products of global warming." Well, whatever you call it, and I expect there are many in our area using other four-letter words as synonyms, we're getting more than enough. The forecast calls for 10-14 more inches on top of the two feet we had three days ago. We're warming up the tractor but have a slight problem: there's no place left to push it. Makes me wish we had a snowblower. Our driveway is already so narrow the car scrapes the snowbanks on either side in some places. Nevertheless, we'll plow on. I'm going to hate to see the aftermath when all the snow melts. Looking out the side of our house where we have a row of lovely pine trees I can see broken branches galore. But I can also see scores of birds at our feeders thankful for a regular meal. Larry bought two 50 pound bags of birdseed so our little friends won't go hungry as long as we have the stamina to slog out and refill. I may have to resort to tying some tennis rackets to my boots to make the treck though. After this snowfall it will be up to my waist!

I wasn't nervous about the roof until two hangars at Dulles caved in from the weight of the snow. Fortunately all of our rooves (tractor barn, shed, house) are gabled, but I wonder how much weight it would take to do some serious damage. And then there's the potential for ice dams Well, we have no control over the problem since I have no intention of climbing up on the roof, so we'll trust in the Lord's providence and do what we can while not worrying about what we can't.

Pray for all the people around the country who are impacted by weather-related challenges: mudslides in California, snow in the east, heavy rains here and there, frost in Florida on the fruit crop. If you get in a real bind just call the White House. Our daddy-in-chief has promised to take care of you from cradle to grave, so he no doubt will send Rahm over to plow your driveway. Now that I think of it, with over 100,000 federal workers on paid holiday because of the snow, why not issue them all shovels and send them out to do something useful. For many being useful may be a new experience! (As a former useless federal employee I speak from experience.)

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